Feb. 7, 2008

Complete Release in PDF Format

WSU TRAVELS TO #7/6 MERCYHURST FOR CHA SHOWDOWN: The Wayne State University women's hockey team continues CHA play this weekend with a showdown at #7/6 Mercyhurst. Both teams enter the contest with perfect 4-0-0 conference records. MC leads the all-time series with an unbeaten 31-0-2 record against the Warriors. The Lakers won the last meeting, 4-1, Mar. 3, 2007 in the finals of the CHA Tournament. The Warriors enter the contest with a 9-3-0 road record and have a 0-3-1 mark against nationally ranked opponents this season.

SCOUTING THE LAKERS: Mercyhurst enters the series with a 19-5-2 overall record and is currently ranked No. 7 and No. 6 in U.S. College Hockey Online and USA Today/USA American Hockey Magazine national polls respectively. The Lakers are led by sensational sophomore forward Meghan Agosta with 58 points (36 goals, 22 assists). Agosta is riding a school record 20-game scoring streak and leads the nation in goals-per game (1.38, 36 total), power-play goals (.35, nine total) and short-handed goals (.27, seven total) while ranking third in game-winning goals (eight total), fourth in points-per game (2.23, 58 total) and ninth in assists-per game (.85, 22 total). Defensively, junior Natalie Payne anchors the blueline leading all defenseman with 21 points (three goals, 18 assists) which ranks seventh nationally for defenseman points-per game.

WARRIORS REACH MILESTONE IN TEAM WINS: With two victories at Niagara (Feb. 2-3), the Warriors increased their win total to 16 setting a new school record for most wins in a season eclipsing the old mark of 15 set during the 2003-04 and 2006-07 seasons.

SEASON-HIGH STREAK: WSU is currently riding a school record eight-game winning streak which passed the old mark of six set during the 2004-05 season from Jan. 29-Feb.19. The Warriors also are unbeaten for a team record nine games (8-0-1) which is tied for the fifth-longest streak nationally.

WSU RECEIVES VOTE IN NATIONAL POLL: For the first time the season, WSU received a vote in the USA Today/USA American Hockey national poll.

10 AND COUNTING: DiPietro is currently riding a career-high 10-game scoring streak. She is only two games shy of tying the school record of 12 games which was set by Poyton earlier this season.

WARRIOR FRONT LINE AMONG NATION'S BEST: Members of WSU's top scoring line are ranked near the top in many national offensive categories. Junior Melissa Boal (Pakenham, Ont./Ottawa Radiers) is tied for a team-high 54 points (29 goals, 25 assists) and leads the nation in points-per-game (2.43, 54 total), is second in goals-per-game (1.32, 29 total) and short-handed goals (.14, three total) and third in assists-per-game (1.14, 25 total). She also ranks fourth in power-play goals (.36 ppg, eight total), and ninth in game-winning goals (five total). Poyton has accumulated 54 points (28 goals, 26 assists). She ranks second nationally in game-winning goals (9 total), third in points-per-game (2.25, 54 total) and goals-per-game (1.17, 28 total, and fifth in assists-per-game (1.08, 26 total) and power-play goals (.33, eight total). DiPietro leads the country in assists-per-game (1.71, 41 total) and is second in points-per-game (2.25, 54 total). She also has 54 points (13 goals, 41 assists). Defensively, sophomore Chelsea Burnett (Ridgeway, Ont./Stoney Creek Sabres) ranks 25th nationally in points-per-game for defenseman (.54, 13 total).

TURCOTTE HOT BETWEEN THE PIPES: Turcotte has an 8-0-1 mark over the last nine games with 201 saves, 1.98 goal-against average, .918 save percentage and two shutouts. Turcotte also ranks 10th in the country with a .719 overall winning percentage.

SHUT EM' OUT: Turcotte recorded her eight career shutout and third of the season earning No. 2 star of the game honors with 32 saves in WSU's 4-0 win at Niagara (Feb. 2) . Earlier this season, she notched her second of the season earning No. 1 star of the game honors with 12 saves in WSU's 5-0 victory over Maine (Jan. 11). Turcotte also earned No. 1 star of the game honors with her first shutout of the year stopping all 15 shots leading WSU to a 4-0 victory over Union (Oct. 20).

HIGH POWERED OFFENSE: The Warriors are tied for first in the conference and third in the country in scoring offense with 98 goals (4.08 g/gm).

POWER UP: WSU's power-play ranks ninth nationally with 29 goals in 144 chances (20.1%).

TIP YOUR HAT: With Boal, Poyton and Bowers' combined seven hat tricks this season, the team set the all-time single season record for hat tricks eclipsing the old mark of two.

FOUR OR MORE: WSU holds a perfect 16-0-0 record when scoring four or more goals in a game.